Do you ever have those days where you just feel like you just can’t think of anything to write? Or maybe you can’t think of anything to say to those around you. I’ve often found myself in both of those situations. And when I think about it, think about why I can’t think of anything to write or to say to those around me, I totally question it. Why can’t I put in writing all of the ideas that come into my mind? Why can’t I speak all of those words in my mind to those around me?

Anxiety. Fear. Lack of confidence.

There, I said it.

Seriously, I have tons of crazy/funny/silly stories that I come up with. I have some pretty silly dreams that I totally think would be funny to share on this blog. I always tell myself that I am going to go talk to those people over there. I’m going to be the one who starts the conversation with that group of people instead of waiting for them to talk to me first.

But I don’t do it. I don’t write about all of those silly dreams or stories. I don’t always share what’s on my mind. Maybe I think my readers will be turned off by a food blogger writing about non-food topics.

I went to BlogHer food last weekend. Going into the conference, I was a little anxious. I love talking to people. My co-workers think I’m a pretty social person – the social butterfly of the department. I was anxious but I thought I would get over the anxiety and talk to a lot of people. And I did talk to people. I talked to brands. I talked to bloggers. But it was all one-on-one stuff. When I got near a large group of people who were socializing together, I clammed up. I got anxious and I woudln’t go over and join the conversation with them.

It’s weird feeling like a totally social person but then getting crazy anxious around a ton of people. Do any of you feel like that?

So do you all mind if I ramble about life, silly things and random thoughts that come to my mind?

Why do people care so much about what others think? We all do. Even if we say we don’t. Sometimes I try to act like a tough gal. I tell everyone that I don’t care what people think. But deep down, I do.

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter”

-unknown but often attributed to Dr. Suess

Do we want to move on to cookie dough bite therapy now? Heck yeah!

I adapted this recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction’s super tasty, crazy good cookbook. It’s easy to make and no bake. Which means your house won’t turn into a heat factory during the summer. Store ’em in the fridge for up to a week for easy snacking. Easy snacking can be dangerous. Dangerously good.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the sugars and butter on medium speed. (you can also use a hand mixer).

Add the half and half, vanilla and coffee extracts and beat until combined. Add the flours, cocoa powder and salt and beat until combined. Mix in the peppermint chips and the ½ C white chocolate chips with a wooden spatula.

Roll the dough into tsp sized balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Place in your fridge and then prepare the white chocolate drizzle by slowly melting the white chocolate chips in a microwave. Start at 20 seconds and then stir. 20 more seconds and stir again. Repeat this process until the white chocolate chips are melted and creamy.

Place the melted white chocolate chips into a piping bag or a ziplock bag. If using a ziplock bag, cut off a small piece of the corner of the bag. Drizzle over the cookie dough bites. Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes before serving.

35 comments on “Mint Chocolate Mocha Cookie Dough Bites + Life”

Julie I am so the same way which is why I don’t know if I would ever attend a conference. I feel so awkward in person! But if I do I know who to find and then we can be all clammed up together! These look fantastic!

Exactly, Nancy! I’d definitely go to a conference again but I would still be feeling some anxiety beforehand. I think what I need to tell myself is it’s ok to talk to groups of people (easier said than done) and that it’s ok to not go to all of the parties. I felt anxious about going to parties and then I felt anxious/bad because I didn’t really go to any. I just felt more comfortable not going to them and that’s ok!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a great week and are having fun on vacation! :)

Julie… this is possibly my favorite post of yours that you have ever shared. Ever. Tears, for real over here. YESSSS, girl!! That is real life and it is SO hard for us to lay ourselves bare anymore than we already do by sharing recipes or projects. At the end of the day, we’re real people and so are our readers.
Recipe looks delicious as always – pinned!!
Thanks for sharing what was on your heart – believe me, I know that is not easy!! xo

I’m right there with you! I often feel so awkward and it’s made worse but not being totally fluent in the language around me, always wishing that someone will approach me so I don’t have to. I just remembered what does help sometimes, is to make it about the other person. If it’s not about me, then there’s nothing to be self-conscious of.

I often run into that problem when I make cookies – the recipe says it will make 40 cookies, I get 30-35. Maybe I don’t measure out the dough right; maybe I devour some of the dough. I’m going to go with the latter. :)

I can completely relate. That is great you went to BlogHer Food!!! And wasn’t it in FL so you didn’t have to get on a plane? Even better. Maybe I’ll make it another time. Did they announce where it will be next year? In the mean time (or any time for that matter) I’ll join you with this cookie dough therapy. Looks great.

Sure was. It was in Miami, which is only an hour and a half drive from my house. No planes. Yay! BUT, we are going to Vegas in August so I’ll be on planes then. Boo. No venue announced yet but I’m going to wait to see where BH Food is next year. If it’s somewhere I’d also like to visit, I may take vacation and incorporate the conference into the vacation.

These cookie dough bites were great and are the perfect therapy! Thanks for stopping by, Holly!

I relate completely! When I’m not already part of a conversation and I’m not close friends with them, I don’t want to elbow my way into a circle of people and interrupt their conversation … there is a little logic to that, but not very! :) I am very much a social butterfly, but I am also very much a people pleaser, and I don’t want people to think badly of me. Once I get stuck letting others opinions define me though, there is no joy in doing things because its all in the name of impressing others. I really appreciate your openness and honestly, Julie, I can ditto everything you said.
Especially including these cookie dough bites! I love that they are actually cookie dough and the drizzles are so cute. Actually, they are just about perfect drizzles – white chocolate and mocha, what more could I want?

These look terrific Julie! I think we all get a little shy when we are out of comfort zone. I know I sure do. I’m never quite sure how people will react to my witty comments, or what I think is witty :) Hope you had a great time overall!

What a great post Julie! I would say that you are in the norm for feeling as you do about group conversations. It is so much easier having one-to one conversations with people in large settings. And I think you get more out of them because you can get more in depth with the person you are talking to. Group conversations are really more about the banter and witticisms and so on and can be fun but I don’t think you make as many deep connections with them.

My first conference was this past Feb. at BYB in Salt Lake City and I had SO much fun. My best experiences were meeting individual people and having one on one chats with a variety of people. I did not insert myself into any big groups of people but I don’t feel like I missed out because of it. And to be completely honest with you, I was WAY too exhausted to hang out with people till 2 am anyway.

I like what one of the previous commenters said: If you make it about the person you are talking to and less about yourself, you will be more relaxed! And just remember, the other people are most likely feeling as anxious as you are!!

So glad you had a great time at Blog Her! And I really enjoyed this time of post! It made me reflect on my own experiences and see them in a different light!! Oh, and yummy cookie bites by the way!! :)

Julie, I’m the same way… the brain is not really working and I can’t think, write, or speak. It just happened to me yesterday at the salon. I had total dead space between all of my sentences with the stylist… I was a total dork! Figured it was bcz the whole experience, place and person was all new to me. But anywho… loving these creative cookie dough bites! Really pretty, too!

Glad you like the cookie dough bites, Gloria! And thanks for sharing your story. I’ve totally had those situations where I’m talking with someone and my mind goes blank or I start thinking about something else for some reason. Then I’m like what? And I’m stumbling over my words.

Thank you! Glad you like the cookie dough bites. I learned something great while at BH Food, when an idea comes to mind, write it down. I have been doing that for the past week and have a few stories in my queue now. It’s definitely helping! :)

Julie, this post could have been written by me, word for word! It doesn’t help, I suppose, that as bloggers most of what we do is solitary and so it’s easy to ‘hide’ behind our computers and never meet anyone. At the moment I’m moving around a lot so have been using that as my excuse for not going to any conferences, but I know I’ll have to get over my anxiety eventually and go and ‘join in the fun’. Thank you for being so candid in this post. So enjoyed it and will probably go and share it somewhere, if that’s OK!

You’re welcome, Helen! I’m glad you enjoyed this post. I’m trying to be candid and open in my posts now and writing what comes to mind.

You should definitely try out a conference. They are fun and I will totally go to one again. I just know that I don’t have to feel obligated to attend parties and do every single activity that is going on. :)

These look so good Julie!! Really. Also — I think walking up to a large group of unfamiliar people is kind of scary for everyone! I’m definitely much better one on one. I am normally pretty chatty, friendly, and not afraid of saying what I think, but big groups are intimidating! Feel free to walk up to me anytime. Especially if you have cookie dough.

Aww well thank you, Heather! It’s so weird that I feel so social and will generally talk to people when I go out, even make small talk. But big groups, this gal gets anxious!

If I ever see you somewhere (and I hope I do cause that would be totally awesome!) I’ll definitely walk up to you. And I’ll make sure I have cookie dough too…which means maybe I should keep a supply of cookie dough on hand at all times. ;)